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When disability is not an obstacle – Interview with Mauro Puppin

22/12/2016

 

Please tell us your story

 

When  I was young, I practiced different competitive sports, and skiing was the last one. At the age of 21, I had a serious motorbike accident (skiing and motorcycling often go together). I came out with my left thigh amputated and a left arm locking. I thought the only activity I could do was swimming, but a few years later, in a functional prosthesis centre in Budrio, I saw an advertising flyer  for people who wanted to undertake skiing with the use of prosthesis. 4 people and I finally meet each other and our willingness and the help of INAIL led us to finally go to the ski slopes, without being envious of people with two legs.

We started to participate in competitions abroad and then the Sporting Federation for disabled people noticed us. I took part in the first official Innsbruck Winter Paralympics in 1988 and then in the Colorado World Championship in 1990. I won in total eight Italian medals (4 in Giant Slalom, 2 in the downhill, 1 in super-G and 1 in special slalom) between 1988 and 1992. After that I quit competitive sports because of work and family.

 

What were your difficulties or fears when you first approached sport?

 

At the beginning, it was hard being able to find a technique useful for putting weight on the prosthesis, especially when flexing the knee. I knew that skiing with only one arm, with the use of stabilisers (around two crutches and mini-skis) was possible, but this meant not being independent and I need help to reach the ski slopes or to enter a mountain hut. The use of prosthesis allows complete independence, on the tracks or self-service, but requires a more strong technique and, at the beginning, more courage. All of this, without forgetting that a normal shape condition does not receive pietistic comments like “poor guy” “do you need some help?”.

 

Who are your pupils?

 

Once I had found the technological solutions for prosthesis and an efficient progression on ski technique, I started to organise some scholar ski weeks for people who are amputees, in collaboration with some orthopaedic centres. The proposal was successful and scholars of all ages from Italy and also from abroad, German in particular, came and attended the courses. The scholar who arrived from the most distant location, came from South Africa. For many scholars, it was the first experience, and two or three weeks were necessary to learn and become independent, while one week was enough for those who practised skiing before amputation.

 

What would you suggest to people who want to carry on their passions, despite their physical impairments?

 

I would suggest that they should follow their dreams, and they will certainly find someone else to share passions and overcome the initial difficulties. The recent Paralympics proved some things that were unthinkable until a few years ago.

 

You are dealing with the winter sport par excellence, so which is the right clothing? Particularly for those who have physical impairments, have you got any useful advice for their clothes?

 

I think that in not many sporting disciplines clothing is important like in skiing. The extreme weather conditions require breathing fabrics with the most efficient thermal insulation. I still remember that, during the Colorado World Championship in the Super-G, the thermometer indicated -23 °C at the beginning of the race. Clothes must be tight-fitting to face aerodynamic issues, and must be created with materials that are resistant to shocks (pallets), rubbing (slipping on icy snow) and cuttings (ski edges). No less fundamental are the elasticity to facilitate movements and comfort to avoid too much effort. In addition, I remember that the fabric must be air resistant, but not too much smooth to avoid slipping downhill in the case of fall. All these characteristics must well combine with a good-looking appearance, because no one would go to the ski slopes wearing an astronaut space suit or a wetsuit.
No particular indications for disabled people: as for anyone else, specific samples with technical fabrics are recommended to avoid unpleasant surprises.

 

In this kind of sports equipment is fundamental. Does innovation involve also disabled people?

 

Sure. The prosthetic aids are increasingly evolved. I personally tested the knee prosthesis made from titanium (by Otto Bock company) and assisted the electronic processes for the production of the leg prosthesis. Today knee prosthesis are available under the control of microprocessors with active reactions to any stimulation, both in ordinary and in sports life such as Alpine, cross country skiing, running etc.
In addition, skis are shaped carving, allow the user with radii of curvatures that were unthinkable at the era of Gustavo Thoeni. This allows an easier skiing for everybody, even more for disabled people.

 

On the ski slopes, are there proper aids accessible to disabled people? And if not, what’s missing?

I think that many improvements have been made both in the preparation of the ski-runs and in railways and lifts. In addition, everywhere the staff has always been highly available, and even the most difficult situations, such as ski for disabled people, boast the necessary support.
 

Winter is coming: would you suggest the ski facilities where families and friends with physical impairments can enjoy a safe skiing?

Safety (and fun) firstly depends on ourselves. Always remember to control bindings, keep skis clean (do not bring skis up to the roof without protections) tighten boots well. In addition, starting from easy slopes, warming up your muscles, being prepared to face weather and snow conditions, and the crowd, are useful advice for everybody and are more important than choosing the right ski facility. If there was the possibility to follow lessons of a teacher with lots of experience with disabled people, I would remember that I boast a long experience with the Vipiteno and Alleghe Civetta Ski School.

 

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